RECORDER REPORT
PESHAWAR: Election 2018 changed the political situation and given unexpected results in Dir Upper district as on first time the third party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the National Assembly seat from the district.
In past the political scenario in the district was different from the present as the people were supported only two political parties Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). But this time the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is hold foot in the district and won the lone National Assembly seat with high margin. The Upper Dir district had one National Assembly seat and three provincial Assembly seats. The NA seat won by PTI and the provincial assembly one seat was won by the MMA candidate Inayatullah Khan while two other were won by the PPP.
There are many reasons behind the declining of vote bank and losing the National Assembly seat by JI and PPP as there are differences among the leadership of the PPP as the party divided in two groups. The one group was led by former federal Minister Najmuddin Khan who took part in the election while the other led by former MPA Anwar Khan who remained quiet and may they had not cast their vote to the party candidates. The differences between the PPP leadership were a main reason in losing the election. Other reason the party leadership not gained the party old and loyal workers confidence but they are in struggle of convincing workers of other parties to join PPP owing to this their sincere workers felt uncertainty and joined other parties particularly PTI.
Like PPP the situation in the JI is not much different as many old and sincere party workers had quit JI and joined other parties. Due to this they lose the NA seat. Mostly of the JI workers told that the JI candidate, former Parliamentary Leader of in National Assembly Sahibzada Tariqullah not attended any funeral prayer and not participated in any other ceremonies. They told that their dealing with general public were not good which cause his defeat. The workers told that Tariqullah had ignored many loyal workers while has remained in contact with wealthy few people. The third reason for losing the NA seat by JI candidate as their own family people joined other parties and quitted JI. His cousin Sahibzada Sanaullah left JI previously and Joined PPP and won the provincially assembly seat on second time and his family other member and JI loyal worker Sahibzada Sibghatullah joined PTI and won the National Assembly seat NA-5 with lead. Due to their family political differences other people also not casted vote in favour of JI National Assembly candidate.
The differences of PPP leaderships and JI given benefit to PTI which had won the National Assembly seat. The PTI elected MNA Sahibzada Sibghatullah was considered a key figure in Sahibzadgan family and his father Sahibzada Safiullah (former MNA) was the founding member of JI in Dir. He was a religious and poise person and had not made any bank balance and property due to this the people of Dir trusted over his son.
JI and PPP are calming in Dir Upper that the 2018 General election are not a transparent one as rigging were seems in various polling stations especially in women polling station and they are not accepting the result of their defeat.
